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CONTENTS:

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

1. World
2. Africa
3. Americas
4. Asia Pacific
5. Europe
6. Middle East
7. South Asia
8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare
9. Finance
10 Human Rights
11. Law and Legal Issues
12. Transportation
13. Weapons of Mass Destruction
14. Recently Published

FEATURE ARTICLE:
Foreign Policy Aspects of the War against Terrorism

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

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1. World

The World Bank's annual Global Development Finance report finds that global growth momentum has peaked. Developing countries are vulnerable to risks associated to global imbalances such as the US current account deficit. The International Monetary Fund warned that the world faces "a permanent oil shock" and warned against complacency about the stability of financial systems.
http://www.worldbank.org
http://www.imf.org

The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) warns that two strains of avian influenza are circulating in Asia and that both have been found in infected birds in North Korea. If the deadly H5N1 strain and H7, that is transmissible from human to human, combine it could create a new strain that could be both readily transmissible and have high mortality.

FAO's annual "State of the World's Forests" finds that many of the world's violent conflicts take place in forested regions because insurgents can find hiding places and exploit valuable natural resources to fund their activities.
http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/007/y5574e/y5574e00.htm

Pope John Paul II's funeral was attended by 200 world leaders, providing an occasion in which leaders of states hostile to each other interacted in unprecedented ways, including handshakes during the prayer ceremony.

Another large earthquake has struck Sumatra. Last week it was revealed that of funds promised for tsunami relief and reconstruction efforts, less than ten percent has been received. Other international emergencies face a huge shortfall. For example, a recent appeal to support Ivory Coast brought in "just over 0 percent".
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=13910&Cr=ivoire&Cr1=

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2. Africa

Algerian militants, possibly members of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), set up a fake roadblock where passengers were forced from their vehicles and shot dead. At least 14 people were killed.

Angola's Marburg disease outbreak is the deadliest and most extreme ever recorded, and the first to occur in urban areas. Marburg is a haemorrghagic fever in the same family as Ebola, and lacks any effective vaccine or treatment. The mortality rate is some three times that previously seen. Of 181 reported cases, 156 have proven fatal. The UN has appealed for aid, including urgent supplies of protective clothing for healthcare workers, disinfectants, and other tools to fight the outbreak. The World Health Organization has been forced to suspend its work in the region at the center of the outbreak after residents began attacking their mobile surveillance units, apparently in the belief that they brought the disease to the area.

Chad has accused Sudan of recruiting its nationals into militias operating in the border with Sudan's Darfur region, potentially threatening Chad's own stability.

In northern Democratic Republic of Congo fighting between troops and Interahamwe militiamen broke out. Reports of casualties are not available. In the south, fighting between government troops and Mayi-Mayi militias killed nine women and displaced more than 5,000 civilians.

Ivory Coast rebels and the government have agreed to a ceasefire, but key election issues are not yet resolved. There were armed clashes at the end of the week that were blamed on rebel deserters.

South Africa's New National Party (NNP), the successor the apartheid National Party disbanded after taking less than two percent of the vote last year. Former President FW de Klerk has called for a new party to be set up, that didn't carry the baggage of the National party.

In Sudan's Darfur region, 350 militiamen attacked a village, burning down all but the mosque and the school, and leaving at least 17 people dead. The militia leader was named as Nasir al-Tijani. His name will join the list of 51 people suspected of atrocities in Darfur that has been submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC). In the capital Khartoum, the ruling national Congress Party organized a demonstration in which tens of thousands protested use of the ICC and criticized the UN, France, UK, and US. Opposition party Umma headquarters were raided, with dozens in the party arrested, and the party itself has been banned following its support for sending war crimes suspects to the ICC. A drastic shortfall in funding the World Food Program in Darfur has forced food rations to be halved.

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission stopped voter registration following a number of violent incidents between supporters of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the opposition Civic United Front (CUF). Elections in Tanzania are due in October.

Togo's opposition party, Union of Forces for Change have clashed with police as the election campaign opened. One man was killed and several have been injured. Police used tear gas and fragmentation grenades to prevent marchers from proceeding.

Uganda's army reports that in March 50 Lord's Resistance Army rebels were killed and 110 people kidnapped by LRA were freed.

Zimbabwe's electoral commission explained discrepancies of up to 15,000 votes in 30 constituencies as "mere updates". The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) rejected this explanation and insists the vote was neither free nor fair. President Robert Mugabe rejected demands for a rerun of the election and, when asked when he would retire, answered "when I am a century old". Mugabe is now 81.

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3. Americas

Brazil's Landless Workers Movement (MST) has occupied 12 farms in the northeastern state of Pernambuco, where poverty is endemic. MST wants to pressure the government to meet its election promises regarding land reform.

Canada's Auditor General evaluated security and intelligence activity to help parliament determine whether the $1 billion now spent annually is well spent and managed. The audit reviews the 2001 anti-terrorism initiative, the Passport Office, national security and emergency preparedness, and the National Defense information and communication initiative C4ISR. The report identifies a number of major gaps, with problems similar to those identified the year before.
http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/domino/reports.nsf/html/05menu_e.html

Canadian Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew has asked Iran to return the remains of Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi and open an inquiry into her death, and has pulled out of the "Doing Business with Iran" conference that Canada had sponsored. These actions follow new allegations from an Iranian doctor now a refugee in Canada, who said he had treated her and found "strange marks of violence", including evidence that she had been raped and tortured before her death. Iran says Kazemi died after fainting and hitting her head.

Colombian government negotiations with the ELN and AUC may be falling apart. National Liberation Army (ELN) guerillas refuse to stop kidnapping, a government precondition for peace talks, because it doesn't raise funds through drug trafficking and needs the money. ELN also says that although the government has broken confidentiality, they are still open to talks. The right-wing paramilitary United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) have refused the terms of a proposed amnesty because it would still leave them open to US extradition for drugs trafficking.

In northwest Colombia, the indigenous populations are a risk of being displaced by fighting between the AUC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and government troops. Fighting has displaced thousands, and the battling groups have imposed blockades, as well as harassing and intimidating the local population. Near the border with Venezuela, FARC rebels ambushed a military convoy using explosives planted in the road, killing 17 soldiers.

The US says that four soldiers, arrested for smuggling cocaine when they were serving in an anti-narcotics mission in Colombia, will not be extradited and are immune to prosecution as diplomats. Colombia points to their bilateral agreement, under which they have sent more than 200 citizens to the US to face drug trafficking charges.

Haitian police have killed rebel leader Ravix Remissainthe, a key figures in a three-week uprising that ousted former President Jean-Bernard Aristide. Remissainthe was wanted in connection with murder and attacks against police stations. Rival armed gangs are still widespread. "Securing Haiti's Transiton" from the Small Arms Survey, reports that disarmament has not been sufficient to prevent even more violence from breaking out.
http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/occasional.htm

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the Interim National Preparedness Goal, which provides guidance in preparedness to terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies. http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4420 DHS also completed the TOPOFF Full Scale Exercise, the largest response scenario yet tested.
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4444

"September 11: Recent Estimates of Fiscal Impact of 2001 Terrorist Attack on New York" is a new report from the Government Accountability Office, demonstrating the attack appears to be less severe than originally estimated, but whose long-term consequences are still unclear. GAO-05-269, March 30.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-269

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) presented its analysis of how the World Trade Center (WTC) towers collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001.
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/wtc_briefing_april0505.htm

In the state of Georgia, the Fulton County Sheriff's Department released a portion of a report on last month's deadly courthouse shooting, describing a number of security lapses, including unlocked doors and inactivated alarms. As yet, the full report has not been made public.
http://www.fultonsheriff.org/

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4. Asia Pacific

Australia has re-listed Lashkar-e Jhangvi (LeJ), Asbat al-Ansar, Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Islamic Army of Aden as terrorist organizations. Such designations expire after two years. Defense Minister Hill visited Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, to address cooperation against terrorism. Hill

Burma adjourned its constitution-drafting convention, sentenced 38 intelligence officers linked to the former Prime Minister to jail terms of up to 100 years, and refuses to cede its scheduled chairmanship of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, despite concerted international pressure on al fronts.

In China, anti-Japanese demonstrations that began in Beijing have spread outside the capital. Protestors are angry at a new Japanese history text they say plays down wartime atrocities, including the Nanjing massacre of 1937 in which more than 250,000 civilians were killed. Thousands have taken to the streets and the Japanese embassy, as well as Japanese-owned businesses, came under attack. Protestors are also opposed to Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

East Timor hosted a visit from Indonesian President Yudhoyono to help normalize relations since East Timor's breakaway in 1999 and the violence that followed its independence. They have agreed on the border between East Timor and Indonesian-controlled West Timor.

Kyrgyzstan's ousted President Askar Akayev submitted his resignation on Monday. Parliament amended its terms to remove immunity and his ability for future political participation, but has still not accepted it.

Thailand increased security at transportation centers after a series of bombs last weekend, but attacks continued. On April 4 a police station and government were targeted and on the 6th a bomb blast injured two police officers when the arrived at a restaurant to inspect the device, which was found in a flower pot.

Turkmenistan President -for-life Niyazov has called for democratic presidential elections in 2009.

Uzbekistan and India signed agreements to improve cooperation in fighting terrorism.

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5. Europe

French police are accused of abusing Arab and African suspects with impunity in a new report, "France: The Search for Justice" published by Amnesty International.
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engeur210012005

Greece disputes Macedonia's use of the name, which is the same as a Greek province but has been recognized by the US. A UN envoy has proposed Republic of Makedonie-Skopje. Previously Greece had insisted on using Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The matter will be discussed further next week.

Italy's government saw heavy losses in local elections, winning only two of 13 regions. A general election will take place next year.

The Netherlands carried out a large anti-terrorism drill. Deemed largely successful "Bonfire". The official report is due in May, but initial evaluations indicate communications problems that show better local coordination is needed.

Russian Deputy Prosecutor General Nikolai Shepel, in a departure from the official story, said that Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov asked his aide to shoot him to avoid being captured.

The UK general election will take place on May 5. A security alert focusing on dissident Irish republicans has been issued.

In Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams appealed to the Irish Republican Army (IRA) to end the armed struggle and embrace political means. The IRA is considering his request.
http://sinnfein.ie/news/detail/9106
http://republican-news.org/current/news/index.html

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6. Middle East

The third Arab Human Development Report details legal and political reforms including these immediate needs that, if not met, could lead to chaotic social upheaval and violence.
* Total respect for the key freedoms of opinion, expression and association;
* Ending all types of marginalization and discrimination against social groups and minorities;
* Guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary and ending reliance on military tribunals and other 'exceptional' courts;
* Abolishing the 'states of emergency' that have become permanent features of governance in the region.
http://www.undp.org/dpa/pressrelease/releases/2005/april/pr5apr05.html

In Egypt a bomb thrown from a motorbike went off in a major shopping bazaar in Cairo, killing four people and injuring 18. The dead included the attacker, two French and one American tourist. The attack, claimed by an unknown Islamic group, raised speculation that it could be the start of a campaign against foreign tourism.

Gaza's shaky ceasefire has been further threatened with a number of incidents during the week including gun and rocket attacks. The most serious was a shooting incident in which Israeli soldiers killed two 14-year-old boys. Following that attack, Islamic jihad said it was no longer committed to a truce.

Iraqis marked the second anniversary of the fall of Baghdad, when the statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled. Tens of thousands of protestors marched in Baghdad and elsewhere to denounce the continued US occupation. Iraqi security forces were present and there were no reports of violence. However, on the same day near the town of Latifiya, insurgents attacked a convoy and killed 15 Iraqi soldiers.

Iraq has a new interim government, with Kurdish leader (and enemy of Saddam Hussein) Jalal Talabani the new president. The two vice presidents will be outgoing president Ghazi Yawer, a Sunni, and current finance minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, a Shia. Iraqi Shia leader Ibrahim Jaafari has been named Prime Minister.

Israeli police are surrounding the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif to address threats from Jewish extremists. The massive security presence seems to have deterred a planned rally.

Jordan's King Abdullah dismissed the government for mishandling several issues, particularly the pace of political and economic reform. A new government was sworn in two days later, containing more reformists.

In Lebanon, an international inquiry will be conducted into the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The UN Security Council approved the resolution, hoping for completion in three months.

Saudi security forces and Islamist militants ended a 3-day battle in which up to 18 militants were killed, including two on Saudi Arabia's most wanted list - Abdulkarim al-Mejjati and Saud Homoud al-Oteibi. Some 50 security officers were injured.

In the West Bank there were a number of clashes connected with settlement expansion and Palestinian movements.

Yemen's army engaged in heavy fighting against followers of Sheikh Hussine Badr Eddin al-Huthi, who was killed last year. Fighting began at the end of March, leaving more than a hundred dead. Fighting on April 6-7 left at least 70 rebels dead after negotiations for a peaceful settlement failed. The British embassy in Yemen has been closed indefinitely and the US has allowed all non-essential staff to leave.

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7. South Asia

The Afghanistan Development Forum was held amid accusations that western aid agencies had squandered reconstruction funds. Donors still fund more than 90 percent of the national budget.
http://www.adf.gov.af/

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led a re-enactment of Gandhi's 1930 freedom march, protesting the British salt tax.

In the state of Andhra Pradesh, suspected Maoist rebels have shot dead Congress party politician Ramdev Reddy.

After 60 years of separation, the first bus service crossing Indian- and Pakistani-controlled sectors opened. Two days before the service opened a bomb blast on the route injured seven, while two other land mines were defused. The day before, militants attacked and caused a massive fire in which the buildings were destroyed. Both militants were shot dead and the passengers were successfully evacuated, with up to 40 treated for injuries. Militant groups Al-Nasirin, Al-Arifin, Farzandan-e-Millat, and the Save Kashmir Movement all claimed responsibility.

India and Uzbekistan signed agreements to improve cooperation in fighting terrorism.

Nepalese opposition parties demonstrating against King Gyanendra's February takeover of the government report more than 500 arrests around the country. Fighting in the western district of Rukum reportedly killed 97 rebels and three soldiers. These numbers are unconfirmed.

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels breached the ceasefire when they attacked a Sri Lankan ship on April 5, as determined by the European monitors. The Tigers claim they returned fire but did not attack. Ceasefire monitors were on board and one was slightly injured.

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8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

The National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) reports that British businesses lost more than GBP 2.4 billion to high-tech crimes. Almost nine out of ten firms suffered attacks against IT systems such as malicious code, fraud, and information theft. Disgruntled employees presented a serious risk and organized crime is increasingly involved in such attacks. In addition to losses from theft, companies suffered business interruptions from both the attacks and the investigations.
http://www.nhtcu.org/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=12457&tt=nhtcu

America Online UK reports that "Geeky jargon leaves UK Internet users more vulnerable to online scams and viruses". Their survey found that:

Analysis of a popular RFID transponder used in vehicle immobilizers and payment systems is susceptible to simple cracking techniques.
http://rfid-analysis.org/

Estonian police report a man has been detained on suspicion of using a highly sophisticated virus attack to steal millions from accounts in banks in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Britain and Spain.
http://nwc.compliancepipeline.com/160401338

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9. Finance

The China Banking Regulatory Commission urged banking institutions to enhance operational risk control. The notice followed arrest of a former Bank of China employee accused of embezzling $6 million, and similar recent incidents.
http://www.cbrc.gov.cn/english/

Switzerland's Money Laundering Control Authority (MLCA), which is responsible for monitoring suspicious activities, reports that, with the Money Laundering Act (1998) now fully functional, in 2004 it investigated 452 financial institutions compared to 259 the previous year. In 2003, seven institutions were closed, but none in 2004. Legal actions were taken in less than half of cases and MLCA, with the finance ministry, issued the first fine of SFr 40,000.
http://www.gwg.admin.ch/e/aktuell/index.htm

Nigeria's former chief of police, Tafa Balogun, has pleaded not guilty in the High Court to 70 counts of laundering and stealing some $98 million.
http://www.efccnigeria.org/

Israeli police launched a raid against an organized criminal enterprise suspected of laundering millions, using blackmail and violence against high ranking public servants, to help support their crimes. 24 people were arrested.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/560752.html
John Tiner, chief executive of the Financial Services Authority, called for insurance companies to address conflicts of interest and avoid the need for mandatory disclosures.
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/Library/Communication/PR/2005/035.shtml

The death of Prince Rainer of Monaco has raised questions whether that could clear the way to institute more vigorous financial controls, and putting an end to the principality's reputation as a tax and money laundering haven.

The Office of Inspector General for the US Treasury issues audit reports on terrorist financing and money laundering, including a review of longstanding Suspicious Activity Report data quality problems.
http://www.treas.gov/inspector-general/audit-reports/2005/by-date.shtml

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10. Human Rights

During 2004, more than 3,797 people were executed in 25 countries and at least 7,395 were sentenced to death in 64 countries. This is the finding of Amnesty International's annual worldwide statistics on capital punishment. China carried out at least 3,400, but sources suggest the number could be as high as 10,000. Iran came second with 159, Vietnam had 64, and the US had 65. This is the second largest annual total in the past 25 years and represents the minimum number of confirmed executions. Many countries conduct their executions in secret.
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engact500112005

Amnesty also reported on a "grossly unfair" act in Saudi Arabia: "Six Somalis were suddenly executed in public on 4 April without being informed in advance that their five-year prison sentences, which they had served - and also been lashed - by May 2004, had apparently been changed later to death sentences by a secret procedure".
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=46536

The British parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee released "Terrorism and Community Relations". This report finds that since 9/11 civil liberties for Muslims have been seriously eroded, including a serious rise in stop and search incidents and numerous arrests without charge, seriously damaging community relations.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmhaff/165/16502.htm

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan addressed the UN Human Rights Commission, warning that "Unless we re-make our human rights machinery, we may be unable to renew public confidence in the United Nations itself". He wants to replace the body, which includes several members guilty of serious human rights abuses, with a smaller, more authoritative and empowered body that is elected by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly.
http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=1388

World Health Day on April 7 drew attention to women and children. More than half a million women die in pregnancy or childbirth and nearly 11 million children die each before their fifth birthday, each year. "The World Health Report 2005 – Make every mother and child count" finds that almost 90 per cent of all deaths among children under five are attributable to conditions that can be easily avoided or simply treated.
http://www.who.int/whr/en/

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11. Law and Legal Issues

Samir Azzouz, a Dutch teenager from Morocco, was cleared of terrorism charges, lacking direct evidence that he had planned attacks, but he was sentenced to three months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm. As he has already served 10 months in detention it is likely he will be released soon..

Geoffrey Cooling pleaded not guilty in a Northern Ireland court to using a radio scanner to gather information that could be useful to terrorists.

Jose Felipe and Fabiano Lopes, both Brazilian police officers, were arrested in their homes in connection with the killing of 30 people in the Queimados and Nova Iguacu. districts of Rio de Janeiro.

Jim Gray, former leader of the Ulster Defense Association (UDA) has been charged in Northern Ireland with possessing and concealing criminal property. He says that the banker's draft and cash (more than $15,000) came from the sale of a pub but the police have opened a money laundering investigation.

Matthew Hale, convicted white supremacist convicted of planning to assassinate a US federal judge, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Sreten Lukic, a former Serbian general who headed the MUP paramilitary force, will surrender to the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague to face charges in connection with killing Kosovo Albanian civilians in 1999.

Mark McMahon, accused of being part of a loyalist paramilitary drug "supermarket" in Northern Ireland, was refused bail in Belfast High Court.

Hazil Rahaman-Alan of Venezuela has admitted carrying a high explosive hand grenade in his luggage with the intent to be a suicide bomber. However, he is not considered a terrorist and the case was adjourned pending psychiatric evaluation.

Eric Robert Rudolph has pleaded guilty in a plea bargain, to US federal charges stemming from a series of bombings, including the fatal attacks at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics and at a Birmingham, Alabama family planning clinic in 1998. He has disclosed the locations of hidden bomb and dynamite and will serve multiple life terms without parole.
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2005/April/05_crm_176.htm

Milorad Trbic, a former Serbian military commander, has been charged with crimes against humanity for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre.
http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2005/p958-e.htm

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12. Transportation

The National Academy of Sciences review of "Disposition of High-Level Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel" finds that the threat of deliberately crashing a commercial plane into a commercial nuclear plant has not been addressed. Limits on information sharing help hinder industry from addressing the types of vulnerabilities represented in a large-scale, well-planned attack.
http://www.nap.edu/books/0309096472/html/related.html

Russian defense official, Colonel General Yury Solovyov, called for new laws to permit the military to shoot down hijacked passenger planes, strengthening terrorism response.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2005/04/08/015.html

The British parliament's Foreign Affairs Select Committee publication "Foreign Policy Aspects of the War against Terrorism" includes a favorable evaluation of the US Customs Service Containers Security Initiative (CSI). The UK does not have similar measures in place, possibly leaving British ports open to terrorist threats. The report concludes "that the Container Security Initiative is a sound means to promote the security of the United States" and recommends "enacting a similar initiative to secure the ports of the United Kingdom and its Overseas Territories".
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmfaff/36/3612.htm#a67

US Customs officials have, for the second time in four months, arrested Chinese nationals smuggled into the US in shipping containers. They arrived inside two 40-foot long shipping containers on board the NYK Artemis, a Panamanian-registered vessel, whose last port of call was Hong Kong, and that also took on cargo in the Chinese cities of Xiamen and Shekou. 29 men were arrested, and two escaped before they were identified.
http://www.ice.gov/graphics/news/newsreleases/articles/chincontainer040405.htm

Kanji Kondo, President of Kondo Kaiji that owns the tugboat from which three Japanese crew were kidnapped in the Malacca Strait last month, says he hired a negotiator to talk to the pirates and paid some 50 million yen (including negotiator fees) to secure release of the hostages.
http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20050407p2a00m0dm007001c.html

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced support for placing hazardous materials placards for materials transported by rail. An independent study found that:

DHS also announced new travel requirements for citizens in The US, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Panama. Beginning January 1, 2008 they must use a passport or border-control crossing card to enter or re-enter the US.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/departmental_press_releases/04052005.xml

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13. Weapons of Mass Destruction

Addressing long-term management of nuclear waste in the UK, the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) announced four proposed options:

Options that have been officially dropped include disposal in space, ice sheets or sea, direction injection into rock, and indefinite storage.
http://www.corwm.org.uk/content-594

The US National Academy of Sciences finds that "Disposition of radioactive wastes in a deep geological repository is a sound approach as long as it progresses through a stepwise decision-making process that takes advantage of technical advances, public participation, and international cooperation". And warns of vulnerabilities in storage of commercial spent fuel pools, contradicting a Nuclear Regulatory Commission finding that the pools at more than 100 reactors are as safe as the dry cask storage used as an alternative.
http://www.nap.edu/books/0309096472/html/related.html

Bulgaria has approved the construction of a second nuclear power plant on the shore of the Danube River. In the existing plant two reactors have been closed and two more are scheduled for closure by 2007.

China plans to build 40 new nuclear reactors within 15 years, to help alleviate chronic power shortages resulting from its economic boom.

In testimony before the US Senate Committee on Armed Services, Ambassador Linton F. Brooks, the Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, disclosed a plan to replace the current US nuclear stockpile with one that is smaller and provides new weapons such as lower yield and bunker-busting weapons.
http://armed-services.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?wit_id=233&id=1429
Also note testimony before the House Energy Committee regarding security at nuclear facilities.
http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/Hearings/03182005hearing1457/hearing.htm

"Anthrax Detection", a new report from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds that federal agencies have not yet agreed on a method to validate sampling methods to determine whether they are free of contamination. This, combined with poor communications and an unclear chain of command, meant that the response to last month's anthrax scare was poor. Local officials were not warned in a timely manner, distribution of antibiotics was not coordinated, and the antibiotics given were unnecessary.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-251

Another GAO report cites improvements in security of the chemical and water infrastructure, but federal support is needed to address economic constraints.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-327

According to the US Department of Justice's Inspector General, laws put in place to restrict the availability of explosives have not been carried out. Instead, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conduct poses "critical deficiencies" in carrying out the terms of the Safe Explosives Act. They failed to request background checks on nine percent of 38,000 applicants and in those that were submitted nearly a third were allowed to work with explosives while their status was "pending" for many months. In half of the cases where prohibiting factors were discovered, no action was taken.
http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/inspection/ATF/e0505/final.pdf

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14. Recently Published

Steve Bogira, "Courtroom 302: A Year Behind the Scenes in an American Criminal Courthouse" Knopf

Committee on Disposition of High-Level Radioactive Waste Through Geological Isolation, Board on Radioactive Waste Management, National Research Council, "Disposition of High-Level Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel: The Continuing Societal and Technical Challenges", National Academies Press
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10119.html

Dennis Dijkzeul, editor, "Between Force and Mercy. Military Action and Humanitarian Aid", Bochumer Schriften zur Friedenssicherung und zum humanitaren Volkerrecht, Band 50, Berliner Wissenschaftsverlag

Sadakat Kadri, "The Trial: A History from Socrates to O.J. Simpson" HarperCollins

Jonathan Mahler, "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx is Burning" Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Michael E. O'Hanlon, "Defense Strategy for the Post-Saddam Era", Brookings Institution Press
http://www.brookings.edu/press/books/defensestrategyforthepostsaddamera.htm

Ingrid Ramberg, "Islamophobia and Its Consequences on Young People", Council of Europe Publishing
http://book.coe.int/sysmodules/RBS_page/admin/redirect.php?id=36&lang=EN&produit_aliasid=1897

Philippe Roger, transl. Sharon Bowman, "The American Enemy: The History of French Anti-Americanism" University of Chicago Press

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FEATURE ARTICLE: Foreign Policy Aspects of the War against Terrorism

The British parliament's Foreign Affairs Select Committee report "Foreign Policy Aspects of the War against Terrorism" reviews key government policies and asks to greater attention to how these issues are connected, highlighting the primary threats from international terrorism and arms proliferation.

The Committee concludes that al Qaeda poses a serious threat that may be growing due to its fragmentation. They cite the example of the recent suicide car bombing directed against Westerners attending a Shakespeare performance in Doha, Qatar, where there have been no such attacks before. They also find that Iraq has become a terrorist training ground, as Afghanistan had been, and that neighboring states are not taking sufficient steps to end support for terrorist groups, whether direct or indirect.

The report addresses specific issues in Iraq, the Maghreb, the Middle East, and Afghanistan.

Continued violence in many parts of Iraq "has devastating consequences for the Iraqi population and imperils the country's political transition; it also hinders the reconstruction process which is key to improving the quality of the lives of Iraqis and drying up the 'recruitment pool' for insurgents". Most of this violence is from Iraqi groups and individuals motivated by religion and dispossession, as well as policies adopted by the Coalition including de-Ba'athification and disbanding the Iraqi security forces. Excessive use of force has also been counterproductive. These consequences should have been foreseen. Failure of the counter-insurgency strategy "may reflect an overriding focus on a military approach to the detriment of political engagement ... exacerbated by the slow progress of reconstruction efforts". Regional and international involvement in reconstruction and the transition are necessary.

The Maghreb and Algeria, Morocco and Libya are strategically important to the UK and "of great significance to the international war against terrorism". This has not been a priority but given the general concerns that areas of the Sahel could be used for criminal or terrorist activities, regional cooperation and assistance is necessary to address it. The UK also needs to address its bilateral relations, including extradition agreements. Addressing migration is also a particular concern: "Not only does the unregulated movement of people sometimes end in tragedy, but it also involves criminal networks that prey on desperate people and could feed into terrorist funding".

Morocco's ongoing conflict over the Western Sahara is "harmful both to Morocco's international relations and reputation and to efforts to enhance regional co-operation". The British government should, "consider the lessons of Moroccan efforts to regulate its mosques and religious teaching with a view to ending the negative effects of extreme Islamic teaching in the United Kingdom". Islamist violence, domestic factors contributing to them, and criminal use of the informal economy mean that Morocco will remain susceptible to violence.

Britain has decided to expand its Embassy in Algiers but needs to ensure appropriate staffing levels and operational , and possibly to reopen a British Council office, to ensure the UK can strengthen relations with this strategic ally. . However, we conclude that even the new level of staffing will be inadequate either to relieve the unacceptable level of pressure on staff or to carry out the work required of a British Embassy in a country as strategically important as Algeria.

In Algeria, "a number of terrorist groups remain active, posing a threat to Algerians and foreigners alike.... the evidence points to links between these groups and al Qaeda, most notably through the 'Afghan connection', making events in Algeria an international concern". In turn, they link to the informal economy and crime, making support for Algeria's work against smuggling, money-laundering, and similar activities, an international necessity. Human rights concerns remain, but assistance in this area and continued support for democratization are necessary.

With the restoration of diplomatic relations with Libya, there are opportunities for further progress that need to be supported by appropriate embassy facilities and diplomatic presence. The report finds "no early prospect of political reform" but there is important cooperation against terrorist and Libya's renunciation of Weapons of Mass Destruction programs is commendable.

Turning to the Middle East Peace Process, the Committee finds the recent London Meeting useful and recommends close cooperation with the US and continued pressure on the international community, the Palestinian Authority, and Israel.

Addressing the situation in Afghanistan, the report emphasizes the need to proceed with elections planned in September since a lengthy postponement could damage the credibility of the emerging democracy. The country faces a huge task in completing disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of militia forces as well as eliminating the narcotics trade. Continued resources directed to counter narcotics efforts and to expand NATO's ISAF operations are essential, particularly the reconstruction teams. Better NATO and US integration could be helpful but the report warns that, "we would not support such a process being used as cover for a significant withdrawal of US forces from the country or for a material reduction in the US commitment, unless there was a corresponding threat reduction".

Reviewing the way in which the "war on terror" has been conducted, the report recommends that the government publicly address due process and prisoner treatment by in Guantanamo Bay and other detention facilities, such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan, raising these issues to the UN Commission for Human Rights. They find that British and US personnel have committed grave violations of human rights of detainees and that such treatment is unacceptable. They emphasize the need to agree and meet international standards for treatment of detainees.

They warn that, "to operate a general policy of use of information extracted under torture would be to condone and even to encourage torture by repressive states" and ask the government to clearly answer whether they have acted on information obtained through torture. The government has since responded that it "vehemently opposed to torture as a matter of fundamental principle". Similar concern was expressed regarding the need for transparency and accountability regarding extraordinary rendition.

Finally, a multilateral framework is judged the best way to proceed against these threats. Its components include a strong and active UN Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), and implementation of international terrorism and nonproliferation resolutions and conventions, included necessary verification mechanisms. Greater cooperation and coordination within European Union (EU) countries, the G8 partnership and international mechanisms is also needed.

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